Steve Bruce’s side badly needed reinforcements as the other newly promoted teams, Cardiff City and Crystal Palace, have added key players in previous days.

Huddlestone, 26, arrives on a three-year deal with the transfer fee thought to be around $8 million for the England international. While 23-year-old Livermore joins on a season-long loan from Spurs.

This tells us two things. One: Hull are extremely serious about staying in the Premier League and they’re likely to bring a physical and direct style of play. And two: Spurs are making room for more possible arrivals as they have a clear-out in midfield. Andre Villas-Boas mentioned that on Saturday following their final preseason friendly with Espanyol, where Livermore and Huddlestone both came on as subs.

In Huddlestone, Hull City have acquired a player with undoubted ability at the highest level. When fit, the former Derby County academy product is a beast in the midfield engine room. He’s won four caps for England and is unlucky to have not won more with several injuries hampering his development in the last two to three years.

Obviously at Spurs he was falling down the pecking order, with the arrival of Paulinho and Nacer Chadli making competition for places even tougher. Now with the chance to prove himself and play regularly, Huddlestone will make Hull’s midfield solid as a rock. But he’s tremendous range of passing is also underrated. He poses a hammer of a right foot and can score long-distance screamers when given the chance.

I’m sure Tigers’ fans will be excited to see him wear the No. 8 shirt this season. And expect to see plenty of fake afro wigs around the KC Stadium too, Huddlestone has become famous for his tremendous hairdo.

As for Livermore, he’s another player that’s suffered due to the extremely competitive midfield core at White Hart Lane. The young Englishman has done well whenever called upon, appearing 38 times for Spurs last season and scoring once. Most of those appearances came off the bench but he was progressing into a valuable squad player after coming through the ranks and signing a professional deal in 2008. While Livermore is no stranger to a loan deal, as Hull will be the seventh club that Spurs have farmed him out to.

Hull have added a dynamic duo of exciting, dependable and young English talent. Their fans will definitely be feeling more optimistic about the season ahead with their squad all of a sudden looking a lot more competitive as the opening day draws even closer.

Can they cause a shock against Chelsea against Stamford Bridge in their season opener on Sunday? I’m not sure about that. But now they have a fighting chance.